Napkin-holder



L Patented Mar. 2|, I899.

A. R. BALL.

NAPKIN HOLDER. (Application ma Apr. 14, 1598.

(No Modal.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER R. BALL, OF CORUNNA, MICHIGAN.

NAPKlN-HOLDER..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,? 62, dated March 21, 1899. Application filed April 14, 1898. serial No. 677,602. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER R. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- runna, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Napkin-Holders and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved supporting device or holder for napkins by means of which a napkin may be held or supported in the proper position when desired for use and may be readily applied and removed when desired.

The invention consists in a particular construction of the holder whereby it is especially adapted for the use indicated, as hereinai'ter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of my device, and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the holder detached.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the two views.

My improved holder is preferably constructed of a single piece of wire, comprising a body 1 of substantially the form of a safety-pin, having a coil 2 at one end, a pin 3, leading from said coil, and a' keeper 4 at the end opposite said coil, in which the pointed end of the pin is adapted to fit and be held.

The keeper 4 is formed by two parallel portions 5 and 6, the portion 5 being a continuation of the bar 7 of the body 1 and the portion 6, which lies parallel thereto, being coiled around the bar 7, as shown at 8, the wire leading from the coil 8 upwardly in close relation to the bar 7, but diverging slightly therefrom, forming a contracted aperture 9, as clearly shown.

At a point adjacent to the longitudinal center of the bar 7 the wire from which the contracted aperture 9 is formed extends laterally at substantially right angles to the bar 7 and is afterward bent inwardly, terminating in a loop 10, which passes through the coil In using the device the same is applied to a garment worn by the user by inserting the pin 3 therethrough and securing the said pin in the keeper 4, the arrangement of the-parts being such as to bring the body of the holder intermediate the pin and the arm forming the napkin-engaging loop with said parts in substantially the same transverse plane, thereby adapting the holder to lie flatwise against its support. If used by a man, the same is preferably located beneath the lapel of the vest or coat, so as to be out of sight, and the position of the device is verticalthat is, with the contracted aperture9 extending downwardly. the napkin is inserted through the opening 11, which is of sufficient size to permit of its ready passage therethrough, and is then drawn downwardly into the contracted aperture 9, clamping the napkin and holding the same in place. The same may be readily removed by-reversing this operation; but when the napkin is in place it cannot accidentally be come detached, as a distinct and positive upward movement thereof in the aperture 9 is necessary.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A napkin-holder made in a single piece comprising side walls converging to their lower ends, one of the sides thereof forming the body of the securing-pin being provided When in this position, theend of at one end with a coil from which the pin extends, and at its opposite or lower end with a laterally-extending keeper having a returnarm coiled around the body portion and extending thence upward on the opposite side of said body-portion from the pin in the same transverse horizontal plane with the body portion and pin, said extension forming the outer or downwardly-converging wall of the holder and having its upper end bent inward and terminating in a coil engaging the coil on the'body portion from which the pin extends, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a nap kin -holder formed from a single piece of wire, comprising a body portion, a converg ing holder portion on one side of said body portion, and a securing-pin on the opposite side of said body portion, said portion hav= ing at one end a coil from which the securthe body portion of the pin, the downwardly- 1o ing-pin extends and at its opposite end a converging Walls of the holder, substantially keeper for said pin, having a return-arm as described.

coiled around the body portion and divel In testimony whereof I affix my signature ing thence from the body portion above said in presence of two Witnesses.

return-arm, its upper end being bent inward ALEXANDER R. BALL. and terminating in a coil engaging the coil l Vitnesses:

from which the securing-pin extends, said FRED M. KILBOURNE,

diverging portion forming, in connection with THOMAS C. NICKELS. 

